Encouragement for Singles

When asked to describe my single life in one word, the word I used was Prepared. Prepared for what, I hear you asking. Really and truly being Prepared for Life. Being single is just one part of my life - not the death sentence some singles may think it is.  It's an interesting part nonetheless, and I've come to the place where I can embrace all that it has to offer me.  I'll talk more about that later.  But right now, I want to talk to all the singles who would define their single life as Lonely.

I can tell you that loneliness is a spiritual matter that can only be dealt with when you go to God and accept His wisdom and guidance in leading your life as a single person. But I won't...not any more than I've already said.  I can tell you that loneliness is you trying to place the blame (because he/she has not come into your life yet so the "living" can begin) for your life not being what you want or how you thought it should be. But I won't...not any more than I've already said. I can tell you loneliness is a term used by singles to make married people empathize with us so that they would introduce us to someone wonderful who will transform us into the God-ordained sanctity of marriage. Ok, I think I got your attention now. Why? Because when many singles say they are lonely, what is truly being said is "I want to be married!"  I'm here to tell you that it's ok to say "I want to be married" when asked about your single life. But that shouldn't be the ONLY thing people take away when asking you about your single life. This leads me to the part that I want to talk about more: being Prepared. 

Being prepared as a single person to me means being Prepared for Life. I've "told God off" because He hadn't brought me a husband by the time I reached age 30 nor by the time I reached age 40.  I've blamed others because if "he" had only given our relationship a real chance, we could be married by now.  I've been angry with friends because it seems that they got the "last good man" when they married and there was no one left to introduce to me. Just because I didn't have a significant someone in my life didn't mean that I didn't have a life. I had a home to run, a job to work  and a ministry laying by the wayside waiting on me to GROW UP! Notice I didn't say anything about family or friends: I had those. Being around other people does not cure what singles call loneliness. What was needed was an adjustment in my thinking, my vision and my heart. 

Enjoy the Journey!

POE -Shauntell (continued)

It all started the summer of 2002. I was getting ready to start the 10th grade so I got all my needed vaccine shots to start school. I also got the flu shot and that started all my problems in health. At this point I started school and was doing good until my right arm went completely numb. No feeling at all. I'm thinking what's wrong. I went to the doctor and was told to rub my arm multiple times during the day and it was from the flu shot. A couple of weeks later my arm still numb and my left arm become numb as well. A few weeks later I lost my eyesight at school in both eyes. My eyesight was blurred, but that was my first year wearing contacts so I didn't think to much of it. I went to the optometrist and she did an examine on my eyes. She said I believe you have Multiple Sclerosis and referred me to a doctor. 

At this time it is now 2003 and my teachers noticed my grades slipping and me making simple mistakes. I go see the neurologist my optometrist refereed me to and she says she thinks I have Multiple Sclerosis and referred me to a neurologist that specialize in Multiple Sclerosis. I see the doctor and she ran a lot of test to see what was happening. Long story short in May of 2003 I was diagnosed with Remitting Relapse Multiple Sclerosis. Me being 15 years of age, I didn't know what it was. I really thought it was like the flu until it happened again. My doctor puts me on a medication which happens to be a shot I had to give myself everyday. I didn't take it like I was suppose to and the  MS kept getting worse. 

#PATHSOFENCOURAGEMENT #POE

I blamed God and was so angry that he put this on me. I tried to kill myself by walking in the middle of a busy street. One lady stopped her car and she asked me what was I doing. She told me that it's not my time to go. She also stated that I should take my problems to God and he's never to busy. I struggled for years with trying to get a relationship with God. One day in September 2014 another MS episode happens but this time the medicine or physical therapy didn't work. I went to God and prayed over and over again. Long story short I've ask God for forgiveness and I realized it wasn't him. It was me. Now my relationship with God is in a better place. He's my everything and best friend. I include him in my daily life. With all that being said God was there for me all along and he never left my side; although I did. All you have to do is receive him. John 6:35, “Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. Which simply means to receive him as what he is — not what you think he is or what somebody told you he is or what you would like him to be. 

Contributing Guest Writer: Shauntell Walker